Writing for tomorrow, it’s a better day than yesterday. Of course, that isn’t saying much. I’m resting all I can, because I will be busy tomorrow preparing for a volunteer day in prison on Thursday. Day 1.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:38 (average 4:58). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Upworthy: The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that there are 939 hate groups operating in the U.S. — a nearly 60% increase since 2000. This reminded me of my favorite quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
These words are helpful to ponder in any situation, but especially when there are still so many people in need of love — both those who identify with a hate group and those who are on the receiving end of the hate.
Recent events demonstrate the danger from Republican hate groups. This is a map of Oregon’s Republican hate groups. Here is the link to the SPLC Interactive Map.
From Daily Kos: This story is about one of those very rare moments in history that’s significantly affecting the way in which the public (and, as Paul Krugman acknowledges it, even many in the status quo) views the dismal science known as "economics." If you’re at all interested in the subject, or income inequality in general, last night’s Moyers’ show, with special guest Paul Krugman, is not to be missed.
Since so many of you can’t see the Vimeo included in the article, I found the same clip on YouTube.
The inequality in the US today is the greatest it has ever been in at any other time or in any other country in world history. Moyers and Krugman together is a true meeting of giants.
From NY Times: Every day, our computer churns through the latest polls and reams of historical data to calculate both parties’ chances of winning control of the Senate. Although the Democrats currently have a 51 percent chance, that doesn’t mean we’re predicting the Democrats to win the Senate — the probability is essentially the same as a coin flip.
After months of being told Republicans will win the Senate, this is certainly refreshing. Lets go change those numbers even more!
Cartoon:
Republicans must hate that site!!
13 Responses to “Open Thread–4/23/2014”
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4:09 The camel kept spitting in my eye so I couldn't see the pieces.
4:22 I kept getting hit by the spit splash coming off of Patty because I was behind her. TomCat "schooled" all of us, except maybe Lynn.
Camel meat is stringy and gamey, but I was hungey. You'll beat me in today's flowerrs.
6:06 – Puzzle
Upworthy ~ There are 42 hate groups in NY according to the map. I think they forgot about the KKK centered in Sherburne, NY. I know it used to be very active there. Maybe it has been disbanded but I doubt it. Most of the hate groups claim a church or religious affiliation by their names. I guess they neever knew that Jesus taught us to "Love one anotther as I have loved you."
Daily Kos ~ It is only getting worse daily too. Something must be done to change it and it can only be done through voting.
NY Times ~ Vote Democrat! Don't let them win!
Cartoon ~ It's only been 9 years?
Time 4:34 too much blue!
Currently, there are 939 known hate groups operating across the country, including neo-Nazis, Klansmen, white nationalists, neo-Confederates, racist skinheads, black separatists, border vigilantes and others.
Since 2000, the number of hate groups has increased by 56 percent. This surge has been fueled by anger and fear over the nation’s ailing economy, an influx of non-white immigrants, and the diminishing white majority, as symbolized by the election of the nation’s first African-American president.
These factors also are feeding a powerful resurgence of the anti government “Patriot” movement, which in the 1990s led to a string of domestic terrorist plots, including the Oklahoma City bombing. The number of Patriot groups, including armed militias, skyrocketed following the election of President Obama in 2008 – rising 813 percent, from 149 groups in 2008 to an all-time high of 1,360 in 2012. The number fell to 1,096 in 2013.
This growth in extremism has been aided by mainstream media figures and politicians who have used their platforms to legitimize false propaganda about immigrants and other minorities and spread the kind of paranoid conspiracy theories on which militia groups thrive.
( http://www.splcenter.org/what-we-do/hate-and-extremism )
All of this finds a core of barely contained hate of the poor roiling just below the surface. That has also led to the spurious but for some entertaining stories of welfare queens and theft from SNAP. I would say that it's also easy to see a correlation between the upsurge of these groups and the "war" on women.
I am listening to Reich speak with Moyers, though I saw this show before Reich has many points to make. I ordered Thomas Piketty's book but have not read. Maybe, I can begin it today, though I expect to mad as a wet hornets when reading. We have had many wealthy families, most of them began as one person usually an immigrant that built something needed by people. By second or third generation most of that wealth has stopped being functional wealth. Cornelius Vanderbilt began as a poor man, that started a ferry between Staten Island and Manhattan, then began his investments in rail roads, that was functional wealth.
Scraping money from pension funds, banking scandals and dubiously earned income from Wall Street is not functional wealth, it's often just what we once call crooked wealth.
So many in this country worship wealth above a healthy society and well functioning government.
If one flips a coin enough times they will find that it does not hit equally.
Thanks TC, you seem to be feeling better. That's just great.
Are the voters in USA that politically stoopid… to vote for any gop/tp candidate
after what they have done to this country…?
Short answer: yes.
5:43 You have to be careful with them, they tend to spit.
Upworthy – Colorado has 17. One is a Racist Music group, which shouldn't shock me but for some reason does. One calls itself a Capital Management company. For the first time Focus on the Family didn't make that list and I'm not sure why. Maybe one of the other two anti-LGBT groups in Colorado Springs is a division of them.
Daily Kos – Moyers tries to invite only giants and at the very least gets guests of above average height. 🙂 I hope the fact that the new shows are a half hour instead of a full hour is his choice and not something imposed on him; of course none of us is getting any younger. BTW there is always a transcript on Moyers & Company if reading is easier or fits into your schedule better than watching. I think most of us here are aware of the problem, but being aware isn't the same as understanding or knowing how to explain.
NY Times – Some of our Democratic candidates, House and Senate, are doing some stellar fundraising which is scaring the pants off Republicans. Money is of course not always the determinant; I don't think we should be overconfident anywhere.
Cartoon – Yes, it seems longer, doesn't it!
It's so very Sad that these wealthy political groups force the have not's to suffer so much. It's all I can do to help my children with a limited income… 😥
Upworthy: I clicked on the map and was shocked at the number of hate groups in this country. ND only had one, do you suppose that is because it is too cold to have meetings?
Daily Kos: Still having a problem with audio on YOuTube. Everything else is ok more work to do for me. I read the article on Daily Kos, though and shared it on FAcebook. Scary stuff.
NY Times: Grimes is still 1% ahead of Mitch, and she hasn't spent a dime on tv ads so far! He is bombarding us with them.
Thanks everyone. Overslept.